68 



NATURE 



[November 9, 191 1 



Mechanics and some of Its Mysteries. By V. E, John- 

 son. Pp. 120. {London : H. Frowde and Hodder and 

 Stoughton.) 15. bd. 



Flying and some of its Mysteries. By \ . E. Johnson. 

 Pp. 138. (London : H. Frowde and Hodder and Stough- 

 ton.) \s. bd. 



Modern Science Reader, with Special Reference to 

 Chemistry. Edited by Prof. R. M. Bird. Pp. viii+323. 

 (London : Macmillan and Co., Ltd.) 55. net. 



Lehrbuch der Protozoenkunde. By Prof. F. Doflcin. 

 Dritte stark vermehrte Auflage. Pp. xii+1043. (Jena: 

 Fischer.) 26 marks. 



Geologische Charakterbilder. Herausgegeben von Prof. 

 H. Stille. Heft 2-8. (Berlin : Gebriider Borntraeger.) 

 Various prices. 



The Climate of the Continent of Africa. By A. Knox. 

 Pp. xiv-f-552. (Cambridge University Press.) 21s. net. 



DIARY OP SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, November 9. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.— The Spectrum of Boron : Sir W. Crookes, O.M.. 

 For. Sec. R.S. — A Chemically-active Modification of Nitrogen produced 

 by the Electric Tlischarge. II. : Hon. R. J. Strutt, F. R.S. —Production 

 of Solid Oxygen bv the Evaporation of the Liquid : Frof. Sir J. Dewar, 

 F. R.S. — On the Gaseous Condensable Compound, Explosive at Low 

 Temperatures, produced from Carbon Disulphide Vapour by the Action of 

 the Silent Electric Discharge. IL : Prof. Sir J. Dewar, F.R.S., and Dr. 

 H. O. Jones.— (i) Optical Dispersion: a Comparison of the Maxima 

 of Absorption and Selective Reflection for certain Substances ; (2) The 

 Influence of the Solvent on the Position of Absorption B»ndsin Solutions : 

 Dr. T. H. Havelock. — \n Experimental Investigation of Gibbs's Thermo- 

 dynamical Theory of Interfacial Concentration in the Case of an Air-water 

 Interface : Prof. F. G. Donnan, F.R.S., and J. T. Barker. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Modern |High Voltage 

 Power Transformers in Practice with special reference to a "T" Three 

 Unit System : W. T. Taylor. 



The Concrete Institute, at 8. — Presidential Address: Sir Henry 

 Tanner, C. B. 



Mathematical Society, at 5.30. — Annual General Meeting. — The 

 Invariants of the Linear Partial Diflerenlial Equation of the Second 

 Order in Two Independent Variables : J. E. Campbell. — On Invariants of 

 a Canonical Substitution : H. Hilton.— The System of Lines of a Cubic 

 Surface : C. T. Bennett. — The Relations between Borel's and Cesaro's 

 Methods of Summation : G. H. Hardy and J. E. Littlewood. — A Method 

 of Establishing the 27-line Configuration of a Cubic Surface: W. P. Milne. 

 Mathematical Analogues of Mental Phenomena : H. Bateman. 



FRIDAY, November 10. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 5.— Nouvelles ^toiles doubles, 6me 

 sine : R. Jonckheere. — Empirical Short Period Terms in the Moon's Mean 

 Longitude: F.E.Ross. — (i) Mean Areas and Heliographic Latitudes of 

 Sun-spots in the Year 1910 ; (2) Observ.ations of Jupiter's 8th Satellite : 

 Royal Observatory, Greenwich. — The Influence of Anomalous Disper^on 

 on Solar Phenomena : P. V. Bevan. — Astrographic Measures of Double 

 Stars : R. W. Wrigley. — On the Errors of Measurements on Photographic 

 Plates : Winifred Gibson.— Fifth Note on the Number of Faint Stars with 

 Large Proper Motions: F. A. Bellamy.— The Spectrum of Nebulium : 

 J. W. Nicholson. — Probable Paper : Possible Phase Relations between 

 the Planets and Sun-spot Phenomena: F. J. M. Siratton. 



Physical Society (at Finsbury Technical College), at 5. — Reflecting 

 Polariscopes for the Study of Optical Stress in Materials : Prof. Silvanus P. 

 Thompson and Prof. E. G. Coker ; The Effects of Holes and Semicircular 

 Notches in the Distribution of Stress in Tension Members (demonstrated 

 by polarised light): Prof. E. G. Coker.— (i) A Surface-tension Pheno- 

 menon; (2) Temperature Rise in Drops as they Part ; (3) Temperatures 

 of Equidensity of Liquids : Mr. C. R. Darling.— (i) Exhibition of a Large 

 Harmonograph ; (2) Physiological Effect of an Alternating Magnetic 

 Field ; (^) Demonstrations of .\coustical Experiments, New and Old ; 

 Prof. S. P. Thompson. 



TUESDAY, November 14. 



Mineralogical Society, at 5.30.— On Crystals of Dufrenoysite, Selig- 

 mannite and Rathite: R. H. Solly.— A Simple Graphic Method for 

 Determining Extinction-angles in Sections of Biaxial Crjstals : H. G. 

 Smith. — On the Meteoiic-stone which recently fell in Eg>-pt : Dr. G. T. 

 Prior.— Struverite from the Federated Malay States: T. Cook and S. T. 

 Johnstone. — On the Temperature at which Gypsum becomes Uniaxial : A. 

 Hutchinson. — On a Total-reflexion Diagram : A. Hutchinson. — The 

 Occurrence of Ankerite in Coal : T. Crook. 



Royal Anthropological Institute, at 8.15.— The Matulu Mountain 

 People of British New Guinea : R. W. Williamson. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— The Loch Leven Water-power 

 Works : A. H. Roberts.— The Hydro-electric Plant in the British Alu- 

 minium Company's Factory at Kinlochleven : F. B. Sonnenschein. 



WEDNESDAY, November 15. 



Entomological Society, at 8.— Descriptions of South American Micro- 

 lepidoptera: E. Meyrick, F.R.S. 



Royal Meteorological Society, at 7.30.— The Abnormal Summer of 

 1911 : C. H.irding. — Notes on Solar Halos : W. Larden. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at 8.— A Geometric Slide Photo-micro- 

 graphic Apparatus : J. E. Barnard.— British Enchytraiids. II. The Genus 

 Fridericia : Rev. Hilderic Friend. 



THURSDAY, Novkmbu 16. 



4 



NO. 2193, VOL. 88] 



RovAL SociKTV, at ^.y>.— Probable Papers : On the Discovery of % 

 Type of Flint Implements below the Ba»e of the Red Cr«^ of ~ 

 proving the Kxiitence of Skilled Worker* of Flint in the Pl>~ - 

 Sir Ray Lankoter, K C.B., F.R.S.— The Influence of I. 

 Bacteria: Prof. W. M. Thornton.— The Permeability of th' 

 S. G. Paine. — The Intrinnic Factors in the Act of Progf 

 Mammal: Dr. T. G. Brown— Ventilation of the Lung durii. 

 Narcosis : G. A. Buckmaster and J. A. Gardner. — The Refr.. 

 of the Eye Media of some Australian Animals: Dr. J. L. Joii...— 

 in Heredity. I. The Effects of Crossing the Sea-urchins, /. 

 esculenius and Echinocardium cordatum. 



Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, at i.—Adj 



cutsiOHs ; (i) Fallacies in the Theory of the Organic Origin <jf 

 Eugene Coste ; (i) The Economics of Tube-milling : H. S; 

 —Paper: The Whim Well Copper Mine, West Pilbara, .> . 

 Australia : H. R. Sleeman. 



FRIDAY, November 17. 



Institution or Mechanical Engineers, at_ 8. —The Endure 

 Metals: Experiments on Rotating Beams at University College, I^ 

 E. M. Eden, W. N. Rose, and F. L. Cunningham. (Adjourned Ditcu 

 —Probable Paper: Double-cutting and High-speed Planing Ma 

 J. Hartley Wicksteed. 



Illuminating Engineering Society, at 8. — Notes on the Desi 

 Motor-car Headlights : Dr. H. R. B. Hickman. 



CONTENTS. i 



Tidal Action and Cosmogony. By H. L 



Recent Advances in the Genetics of Plants. By 



W. Bateson, F.R.S 



The Rusting of Iron. By G. T. M 



Aspects of the Earth's Story. By J. W. J 



Bantu Mysticism 



The Voice of Lyell. By G. A. J. C 



Modern Knowledge Handbooks 



Our Book Shelf 4 



Letters to the Editor:— 



The Scientific Misappropriation of Scientific Terms. 



—Dr. F. A. Bather, F.R.S 



The Electro-vegetometer.— Charles E. Benham . . 4 

 Novetnber Meteor-showers. — ^John R. Henry ... 4; 

 Tick (Ixodoidea) Generic Names to be included in 

 the '• Official List of Zoological Names."— C. W. 



Stiles 4 



Localising Minute Leaks in Vacuum Apparatus. ^ — 



F. W. Aston 



Multiple Rainbows. — E. Newbery 4, 



Dangerous Mixtures. — Harold Calam 4: 



The Solar Physics Observatory. {Illustrated.) ... 4; 

 The Encyclopaedia of Sport. (Illustrated.) By R. L. 41 

 The Propagation of Earthquake Waves, By Prof. 



John Milne, F.R.S 



Prof. George Chrystal. By Dr. C. G. Knott .... 4: 



Notes 4< 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Brooks's Comet, igiir $t 



Borrelly's Comet, 191 if, and Wolfs Comet, 1911a . . y 



Mars 5i 



The Sun's Energy Spectrum and Temperature ... »- 



A Daylight Meteor in South Africa 



The Period and Epoch of 68 « Herculis 



The Astronomical Society of Barcelona 



The Magnitudes of Eighty-eight Stars in Coma 



Berenices 5- 



The New Botanical Laboratories of the University 



of Manchester. (Illustrated.) 55 



Plague in East Anglia ... 5^ 



Congress of the Universities of the Empire (igi2) . 5^ 



Botany at the British Association 5^ 



Animal Sanctuaries in Labrador 6c 



The Present Position of Electric Steel-melting. By 62 



Prof. A. McWilliam 62 



University and Educational Intelligence 65 



Societies and Academies 66 



Books Received 67 



Diary of Societies 6^ 



